Operating mechanism for ditching machines and their carrier cars



Sept. 3, 1929. G. T. RoNK 1,726,771 OPERATING HECHANISN FOR ).)ITCHING IACHINES AND THEIR CARRIER CARS Filed Aug. 8. 1927 Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE T. RONK, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO SPEEDER MACHINERY COR- IPORATION, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR DITCHING MACHINES AND THEIR CARRIER CARS.

Application filed August 8, 1927. Serial No. 211,460.

This invention relates to improvements in that type of ditching mechanism which consists of a portable ditching machine adapted to operate the ditching mechanism and the mechanism for advancing the ditching inachine by means of a single unit, and of that type of ditching machines especially adapted to be used in railway work in which is employed a carrier car for moving the ditching mechanism from one job to another.

The object of my invention is to provide in connection with a ditching mechanism and carrier car a single power unit adapted to actuate the ditcher mechanism, and also capable of moving the ditching machine from point to point and to position onto or A'off of the carrier car; and further to provide means for imparting movement to the carrier car when the ditching machine is disposed thereon to move the ditching machine from one job to another, and also capable of imparting movement to the carrier car when the ditching machine is removed therefrom and operated near the carrier car so that the carrier car may be utilized to provide means for the operation of the dump cars for receiving material from the ditching machine, so that the dump cars may be advanced with the ditching machine, the mechanism including means whereby the ditching machine and the carrier car may be operated either in unison or independently.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ditching machine and a ditching machine carrier car, showing the manner in which the ditchingI machine is mounted thereon and the manner in which dump cars may be operated by said carrier car.

Figure 2 is a plan view of same showing the ditching machine located at one side of the carrier car, and the manner in which the ditching machine may be located to deliver material to the dump cars.

Figure 3 is a detail, transverse, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail plan view of the power device.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatical view of the 55 electric circuits.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1() indicates a railway track of ordinary construction, on which is mounted a ditching machine carrier car 11. Said car comprises trucks 12 and 13 designed to support platforms 14 which are connected by means of a drop platform 15 supported between said trucks and designed to support and carry the ditching machine 1G. The 65 ditching machine comprises a platform 17 pivotally supported on a truck 18 which in turn is supported by means of tread members 19, preferably of the crawler type. Said tread members are operated by means of sprocket' wheels 2() and a chain 21, the said chain being driven from a shaft 22 and sprockets 23. The shaft 22 is driven through bevel gears 24 from the vertically arranged shaft 25 which is mounted in the pivot member of the platform 17. The upper end of the shaft 25 is provided with bevel gears 26 driven from a horizontally arranged shaft 27. The shaft 27 has a spur gear 28 in mesh with a pinion 29 and rotatively mounted on the drive shaft 30. Said drive shaft 30 is driven by means of an engine 31. A clutch device 32 is provided for connecting the pinion 29 in operative relation with the shaft 30, said clutch member being actuated through a lever 33. A pinion 34 is mounted on the shaft 30 by means of which the ditcher mechanism may be also operated from said shaft. This mechanism is not illustrated inasmuch as it forms no part of my present invention. Said pinion 34 is operatively connected with the shaft 30 by means of a clutch member 35.

Thus means is provided whereby the ditcher mechanism, consisting of a boom 36 and a bucket 37, may be operated from the engine 31 in the usual manner by actuating the clutch member 35. The ditcher may be advanced by actuating the clutch 33 and through the pinion 29 and the gear 28, so that the ditching machine may be moved to position onto or .0E of the platform 15, or it may be moved adjacent to one side of the track 10, as illustrated in Figure 2, so that material excavated may be delivered to either of the dump cars 38 which are connected to the car 11, or the ditcher may be operated while it is supported on the platform 15 and deliver material to said cars 38.

One of the axles 39 of the truck 13 isprovided with a gear 40 designed to be rotated by means of a pinion 41 mounted on a motor shaft 42, said shaft being operated by the elect-ric motor 43. This provides means for advancing the ear 11 as well as the cars 38.

For actuating the motor 43 I have mounted on the platform 17 an electric generator 44 driven from the shaft 30 of the engine 31.

Flexible conductors 45 are provided for operover the ground surface or onto and off ofthe carrier car, and at the same time provide means whereby the carrier car may be operated by power derived from the engine and while the ditching machine is either on or off of the platform 15, so that the power from the engine 3l may be utilized to operate the cars 11 and 38 as a train for delivcring the material collected in the dump cars to any suitable point, or the car 11 may be utilized to deliver the ditching machine from one job to another.

By making the flexible cable 45 of considerable length, it will be seen that the ditching machine may be operated. at a point some distance from the carrier car, and at the same time supply the motive power for advancing the dump cars in unison with the advancement of the ditching machine or independently thereof. The rheostat 46 provides suitable controlling means for stopping, starting and regulating the speed of the carrler car.

In the drawings I have illustrated the engine as being mounted on the ditching machine, in View of the fact that a large part of the work performed by the engine will be utilized in operating the ditching mechanism in addition to advancing the ditcher and the carrier car. It will be seen, however, that the engine might be mounted on the carrier car together with the generator 44 and the motor mounted on the ditching'machine, and utilized to operate the ditching machine mechanism as well as advancing the same, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a ditching machine and a ditching machine carrier car, means for advancing said ditching machine, means for advancing said ditching machine carrier car, a power device carried by said ditching machine, an electric generator operated by said power device, a motor carried by said ditching machine carrier car for operating its advancing mechanism, and flexible'conductors for operatively connecting said generator and said motor to operate the car when the ditching machine is either on said car or when it is on the ground surface at a distant point from said car.

2. In combination, a portable ditching machine, a railway car having means for supporting and carrying said ditching machine, means for advancing said ditching machine to move it onto or off of said carrier car and for advancing the same over the ground surface, means for advancing said carrier car, a power device carried by said ditching machine, an electric generator operated by said power device, a motor carried by said carrier car for operating its advancing mechanism, and flexible electric conductors for operatively connecting said generator and said motor to operate the car when the ditching machine is either on said car or when it is on the ground surface at a distant point from said car, said conductors including a connecting plug and a rheostat.

Des Moines, Iowa, August 3, 1927.

GEORGE T. RONK.

CII 

